Hidden Realms

by Unknown

  I hesitated. I didn’t know what to tell him, since I had no idea myself.

  “Maybe stress?” I tried with a lopsided shrug. “I mean, what with falling overboard and everything…”

  His brow furrowed. “Yeah. Maybe.”

  Silence returned to the room, broken after a few minutes by the sound of Diane coming back from the hallway.

  “Well,” she said as she set the phone in its cradle. “It seems things are going to have to be cut short.”

  “Why?” Baylie asked.

  Diane sighed. “I’d hoped perhaps Chloe’s parents would approve our doctor taking a look at her, but they’re insisting on having their physician back home check her out. They’re going to be here soon to pick her up.”

  I blinked. “Wait, what?”

  “Well, honey, I had to call them. You passed out. And I’m really sorry, but since they were on vacation not too far from Santa Lucina anyway, they just want to come get you now.”

  I’d been wrong. The nausea wasn’t gone. Not by a long shot.

  And I was so dead.

  I swallowed hard. “Ah. Right. Did they, uh, say when they’d be here?”

  “They weren’t sure. Maybe this evening.” Diane smiled. “But hey, we’ll have a room set up for them long before then. The more the merrier, eh? You just focus on feeling better.”

  I nodded as she headed back down the hall.

  My gaze went to Baylie. By the kitchen island, she was studying the ground, her expression flabbergasted.

  She noticed me watching her, and her eyes twitched between me and Noah.

  “What is it?” Noah asked us.

  I hesitated. I hadn’t really intended to tell anybody, besides Baylie who already knew. It wasn’t anyone else’s problem. I’d just figured I’d deal with the fallout of my mom and dad being angry when I got home, and enjoy my vacation until then.

  So much for that.

  “I didn’t tell them I was here.”

  “What?”

  I winced at his expression.

  “They weren’t going to let her come,” Baylie explained. “They’re, well, a bit crazy and since we were talking about going to the ocean, they sort of…”

  “Freaked,” I supplied when she trailed off in search of a word to describe the Chernobyl-level meltdown they’d had at the mere suggestion of this trip.

  “But,” he said, looking confused, “they’re on vacation here too.”

  Baylie scoffed. Noah’s brow furrowed.

  “My parents would rather die than come anywhere near the coast,” I said. “They kind of have a thing about water.”

  I looked away, grimacing as the pieces clicked. They must have left the second they figured out where the Delaneys lived. And the address wouldn’t have been too hard to learn; Baylie’s parents probably knew it by heart. All my mom and dad had to do was ask.

  “I bet they headed for Santa Lucina the moment they realized you were gone,” Baylie said as if reading my mind, and the expression on her face made her opinion of the idea clear.

  “You’re not serious,” Noah replied.

  “Oh yeah, I am,” Baylie told him.

  His brow furrowed as he processed the information. On the white couch, I shifted uncomfortably, feeling like a freak by association.

  “Listen, can we get out of here?” I asked. “Maybe go for a walk or something?”

  Noah gave Baylie a concerned look.

  “I’m fine,” I insisted to them both. “I was probably just dehydrated from the saltwater or something. But I’d really like to see more of this place before they get here.”

  A moment passed.

  “Please?”

  “The park is pretty nice,” Baylie offered, a touch reluctantly.

  Noah sighed.

  “Great,” I said, rising.

  My legs wobbled and I froze. Noah stood quickly, grabbing my elbow to stabilize me.

  “Maybe you shouldn’t–”

  “I’m fine,” I told him. Drawing a breath, I straightened and the shaky feeling in my legs faded. I took a step away from the couch. “See?”

  He didn’t look convinced, but he let my arm go.

  Baylie hopped down from the chair and I followed her from the room with Noah a few steps behind. Diane and Peter were about as reluctant as their son for me to leave the house so soon after my lovely display in the kitchen, but finally they agreed. Together with Daisy, the three of us headed out.

  As it turned out, the park Baylie mentioned lay at the base of a gentle slope beyond the thick wall of bushes that surrounded the Delaneys’ house, which meant we didn’t have very far to walk at all. I tried not to be disappointed – if I’d had my way, we’d have been on the other side of town, or maybe in the next county or state by the time my parents showed up. But the breeze off the ocean was soothing, and the grassy area near the beach gave Daisy plenty of space to run.

  Sitting down on a bench close to the sandy shoreline, I attempted not to fidget too uncomfortably as Noah joined me. The smoothie I’d purchased from one of the carts along the promenade sweated in my hand and slowly froze my fingers. Several yards away, Baylie kept an eye on Daisy, and tossed her a branch we’d picked up as we walked along.

  “So,” Noah began.

  I watched him from the corner of my eye.

  “Pretty crazy, that stuff on the boat,” he continued.

  I looked down, embarrassed. “Thank you for… you know.”

  He shrugged. “No problem.”

  Daisy ran toward a group of birds beneath a palm tree a hundred yards away. Yelling at her, Baylie followed.

  “So you really didn’t tell anyone you were coming here?”

  I grimaced, looking away.

  “Sorry,” he said. “I just… that’s pretty crazy too.”

  “It’s normal,” I replied.

  My tone sounded defensive, and my response was too fast, and I could tell he heard it.

  “Going to visit the ocean,” I explained, trying to keep my voice calm. “It’s normal to just take a vacation. They’re the ones who’re crazy.”

  He paused. “They really hate water? Like, that’s why they didn’t want you to come?”

  I nodded.

  He thought for a moment. “They’re the ones who don’t feel the same way you do about the ocean,” he said, as though filling in a blank. “That’s who you were thinking of last night.”

  I hesitated and then nodded again.

  His brow shrugged in amazement.

  I looked back at the water. Waves rolled toward the shore from a horizon that was nothing but shades of beautiful blue.

  “They’re missing out on so much,” I whispered, watching the tide.

  I realized I’d spoken the thought aloud, and I glanced to him hesitantly.

  He had that look in his eyes again. Like he understood.

  “Yeah,” he agreed.

  I drew a breath, some of the tension leaking out of me.

  “So… what happened?” he asked carefully. “To make them like that, I mean. Did somebody in your family drown or something?”

  “No. I don’t know what their deal is.” I paused, working to adopt a lighter tone. “I mean, I do have an uncle who thinks he’s related to the seahorses at the Mall of America aquarium. But he also thinks he’s Napoleon, so that’s probably not it.”

  Noah blinked. I watched him, hoping he’d find it funny and not just wonder if the insanity was genetic.

  “You’re joking,” he said.

  I shook my head.

  He paused.

  “They’re just nuts,” I said more seriously. “Protective, but on steroids. They wouldn’t let me take P.E. at school, do sports, any of it. But water… that’s their big thing.” I shrugged. “I don’t know why.”

  He was silent for a moment. “Must’ve been hard growing up with them.”

  I tried not to grimace. I hadn’t intended to sound like a victim. They were probably certifiable, it was true. If it hadn’t been for
Baylie and her family continually giving me a place where I could hide from the crazy, God knew what I would’ve ended up like. But that didn’t mean I wanted pity.

  Especially not his.

  “They’re nuts,” I acknowledged. “But you have to keep it in perspective. I mean, I’m not. Baylie’s not. I’m fairly certain you and most of the rest of the world aren’t…”

  I gave him a hopeful grin.

  Noah hesitated, his lip twitching. “Last time I checked. I’m not sure about the rest of the world, though.”

  My grin broadened. “Regardless, it’s still perspective.”

  He gave a slow nod, and then turned back to the water. A heartbeat passed.

  “You’re amazing, you know,” he said quietly.

  My grin faltered, and a blush raced up my neck. I dropped my gaze to the smoothie melting in my hand. “I-I’m not–”

  He looked back to me. “Really.”

  I swallowed. My face could probably have masqueraded as a stoplight for how red it felt. “Thanks,” I managed, returning my gaze to the smoothie. “You, um… you too.”

  He paused.

  “Hey,” Baylie called, jogging up to us. “You guys want to head toward the pier? Daisy’s done about all the damage she can to the heart rates of the bird population here.”

  “Yeah, sure,” Noah said, and to my ears, his voice sounded a bit tight.

  Though it might have just been my imagination.

  He took a breath and pushed to his feet. I followed, glancing back to see Daisy racing off after another seagull that had foolishly landed in a hundred-yard proximity.

  The boy from the ocean stood at the edge of the park.

  I froze. In the early afternoon light, his black hair glistened. Slender, but in the way a steel cable was slender, he was paused with one hand resting on the trunk of a palm tree.

  And his eyes were locked right on me.

  “Chloe?” Noah said.

  Gasping, I glanced to him and Baylie. “Do you see–”

  The boy was gone when I looked back.

  My gaze darted around the park, landing on tourists and volleyball players and people in rollerblades and not finding him anywhere.

  But I’d seen him. I had.

  Or else I’d been really hasty in telling Noah I wasn’t insane.

  “Chloe?” Noah tried again. “What is it?”

  My heart pounding, I looked back at him. “Sorry, I, um… nothing. Just thought I saw someone.”

  I plastered a grin on my face, though I could feel how tense it was, and I was fairly certain he could see it too.

  “Okay,” he allowed. He gave Baylie a small glance, and then continued to me, “The pier sound alright to you?”

  “Sure.”

  The grin was going to crack. I started walking, my gaze twitching to the place where the boy had been standing.

  No one was there.

  Noah’s cell phone buzzed.

  I nearly jumped out of my skin.

  Noah stared at me as I turned back. “Are you okay?” he pressed.

  Still clinging to my swiftly fracturing grin, I nodded.

  His phone buzzed again. He didn’t take his eyes off me as he pulled it from his pocket.

  “Yeah?” he answered. A moment passed, and when he spoke again, disbelief filled his voice. “Already?”

  My heart sank.

  “Okay,” he sighed. “Be there soon.”

  He returned the phone to his pocket.

  “They’re here,” I said.

  “Just pulled up.”

  I looked away.

  “I’m sorry, Chloe,” Baylie said.

  I nodded.

  Noah glanced to Baylie. Reluctantly, they started back toward the house, bringing Daisy in tow. Closing my eyes, I took a breath and then followed.

  Mom and Dad’s green sedan was parked out front when we arrived.

  I paused at the edge of the driveway, half-expecting them to be in their vehicle ready to go. But nothing moved behind the smoked windows and after a moment, I drew a steadying breath, making myself head inside.

  The silence was worse than anything, like the calm before the storm that tears your house down. By the door, my backpack was already waiting. As I walked to the kitchen, I found Mom and Dad sitting on barstools next to the island, stiff as sculptures with glasses of ice tea untouched beside them. By the counter, Diane and Peter looked past me to Noah and Baylie, and I could see the displeasure with them both beneath their polite expressions.

  “Well, thank you for your hospitality,” my dad said, his voice tight as he rose to his feet. “But we’d better be going.”

  Mom gave them a pinched smile as she followed my dad across the room. “Come on,” she told me as she walked past.

  I looked between everyone. “They…” I started, and then trailed off. I didn’t even know what my parents had said to the Delaneys.

  “Chloe,” Dad called.

  “Whatever they told you,” I pressed on, “it’s not Noah or Baylie’s fault.”

  Glancing to Noah, I tried for a smile, and then trailed my parents to the door. Hefting my backpack, Dad put it in my arms and then nodded toward the car.

  I went. Reaching their sedan, I swung my bag onto the seat and then reluctantly climbed in. Dad shut the door behind me and then joined my mom in the front. The sedan quivered as he turned it on, and gravity pushed me back as he accelerated away. Ignoring the speed, my mother drew a tight breath as she tucked a lock of her wavy brown hair behind her ear.

  And neither of them said a word.

  I sighed, looking back toward the horizon through the smoked windows. Sunlight glistened on the waves and seagulls flew in lazy arcs through the sky. Boats cut myriad lines through the blue expanse, and behind several of them, bright-colored water-skiers skimmed along. Even through the haze of the darkened windows, it was still a beautiful day.

  And I’d be back to see more of them.

  Clinging to the thought, I kept watching the water till the car turned again and the ocean view was obscured by bushes and trees. Following a twisting path through town, Dad steered the car toward the state highway, his every motion tense and angry.

  And then he turned north.

  My brow furrowed.

  Continuing on, he traced the highway for a few miles and then took an exit to another state road leading even more sharply north.

  I turned around, looking through the rear window.

  Surely not.

  I restrained an incredulous scoff. They weren’t going back the way Baylie and I came. And the only reason I could think of was that the main road ran along the water and, owing to the curve of the coastline, these roads led directly away from it.

  Wow. Just… wow.

  “What were you thinking, Chloe?” my mother hissed, her voice barely audible over the road noise.

  I glanced to her. She twisted around in her seat, pinning me with a furious glare.

  “We heard about your little boat trip,” she told me.

  “I’m fine.”

  She scoffed, the sound nearly what I’d kept myself from making a few moments before.

  But that’s family for you. Get angry the same way.

  “No thanks to your own foolishness,” she retorted. “You’re just lucky the Coast Guard pulled you out when they did.”

  I turned to the window.

  “You look at me when I’m talking to you, young lady.”

  I ignored her.

  “Chloe Marie Kowalski!”

  “Listen to your mother, Chloe,” Dad ordered. “You have no idea how lucky you are. There are bacteria in seawater. Dangerous animals too. Killer sharks. Sting rays–”

  I wasn’t able to hold back the scoff this time.

  “You could have died!” Mom snapped.

  I gave her an incredulous look.

  Her glare deepened. “It’s dangerous out there, Chloe. There are diseases, and rabid animals, and crazy people. The world isn’t one big playground for yo
u to go tromping around in, young lady, and I just hope you learn that before it hurts you.”

  I turned away with a groan.

  “You’re grounded,” she said.

  “Figured.”

  “Till Christmas.”

  My eyebrows climbed as I looked back to her. “Huh?”

  “You heard me.”

  “You are not serious.”

  “Oh, yes I am. Your father and I discussed this on the two-day drive you made us take to get out here.”

  “I didn’t make you–”

  “We told you no about this trip, and you came anyway. What were we supposed to do?”

  “Let me! It was just a short–”

  “No. It was you being obstinate, and that ends now. We know what’s best, Chloe. You need to learn to obey us on these things.”

  I glared at her, my skin crawling at the word. Obey. They loved that one.

  “Also,” Dad added. “We’re moving.”

  My glare faltered as my jaw dropped. “Wait… what?”

  “Moving,” my mom repeated. “Baylie has obviously been a bad influence on you. Her whole family, for that matter. We think it would be better if we didn’t live next to them any longer.”

  “No,” I protested. “No, I am not–”

  “Yes, you are. We’ve already spoken with a realtor on the phone, and we have appointments to see houses in Salina when we get back.”

  “You’re leaving town?”

  “We are,” Mom corrected. “I don’t know what you expected here, Chloe. You ran away from home, thanks in no small part to that girl. There are consequences to that kind of behavior.”

  I couldn’t believe this. It was like some bizarre nightmare where people told you things more horrible than you could have imagined in your waking hours, all while acting as though those things were somehow completely acceptable to say.

  “You can’t do this.”

  They didn’t respond. Mom just turned around to face the front and Dad kept driving like nothing had happened.

  I stared. They didn’t care. They thought they were right, and that was all there was to it. Yet surely that couldn’t be all, because there was no way they’d move simply because I’d–

  But of course they would, I realized. Of course they would. They were insane. Utterly, completely, and all otherwise insane.